Overview & Reviews

When it comes to the small car segment, Japanese automakers have long held a dominant role. But some makes and models have been more popular than others. The Mitsubishi Mirage reliably served as an affordable and economical set of wheels for 16 years, usually scoring well in quality surveys and critics' reviews. Yet this compact sedan and coupe never could escape the shadows of more popular models like the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla.

In actuality, the Mirage's road manners, at least on versions equipped with the proper engine and tires, were reasonably refined and up to the demands of basic transportation. Gas mileage was decent, cabins were acceptably isolated from noise and ride harshness, and the Mirage's interior was designed as well as any. Finally, Mitsubishi was ahead of the game in offering what small-car shoppers presumably look for most: a low price.

For awhile there, the Mitsubishi Mirage even showed hints of sports car aspirations by dishing out a couple high-output engines, one of them turbocharged. But the Mirage never attained much sales success. Most shoppers at the time preferred the comfortable reputation provided by more mainstream products. As a used compact sedan or coupe, the Mirage is at least worth a look as a budget buy, especially given its below-average resale value. However, you'll want to be aware of the car's limitations and faults, and comparing it to a few other small car choices would probably be wise.

Most Recent Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mitsubishi Mirage lived its fourth and final life from 1997-2002. Its lineup was divided between sedan and coupe body styles and entry-level DE (later ES) and upscale LS trim lines. Engines included a 1.5-liter engine with 92 horsepower and a 1.8-liter with 113, both of which could be paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

At first, all Mirages were sparsely equipped, but LS models could at least be ordered with power windows and locks, cruise control, 14-inch wheels and a sunroof. Style-conscious LS coupes added standard alloy wheels, foglights, a spoiler and a tachometer.

Over the next few years, Mitsubishi tinkered with the different trims' feature lists; the most notable change was the discontinuation of antilock brakes, which were only offered as an option on LS models through 1999. For the Mirage's final year, only the coupe survived, as Mitsubishi discontinued the sedan in favor of the car's eventual replacement, theLancer.

Picking the right Mitsubishi Mirage is critical to its desirability. Because the 1.8-liter engine and 14-inch wheels are necessary for decent acceleration, handling and braking, stick to sedans of 2000-'01 or an LS of any year, which have more amenities anyway. Also note that the sedan's slightly greater length, wheelbase and height (a tradition carried over from past Mirages) made it a passable four-seater, whereas the coupe's backseat suffered from cramped space and awkward entry and exit, partly due to a passenger seat that didn't slide forward easily.

With any Mirage of this vintage, one pressing matter to keep in mind is safety, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded it an unusually low rating of "Poor" in its frontal offset crash test.

Past Mitsubishi Mirage Models

The most recent Mitsubishi Mirage owed much of its design to the generation of 1993-'96. The third-gen Mirage was also available in sedan and coupe form, and it used the same engines and transmissions. It was also similar in size and had the same suspension (struts in front, multilink in rear) and the same competent demeanor on the road. The most significant difference is that the automatic transmission attached to the 1.5-liter engine had only three speeds, which made for noisy and inefficient freeway driving.

Trim lines included the S, ES and LS. The 1.8-liter engine initially came only in the LS sedan, then spread to ES sedans and LS coupes in 1994. Other changes that year included an upgrade from 13-inch wheels to 14 (on some models) and a driver side front airbag. Dual front airbags replaced the motorized seatbelts in 1995, the same year Mitsubishi oddly ceased selling sedan versions of the Mirage to the public, instead restricting them to fleets.

While this generation of Mirage had a sound design, the details limit its appeal. The 13-inch wheels and lack of airbags during the early years are a concern, while the later years are limited to a smallish two-door coupe that went without now-common amenities like power windows and locks or cruise control.

The second-generation Mitsubishi Mirage of 1989-'92 was another story. Body styles consisted of a sedan and a two-door hatchback, with most models coming with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 81 hp (92 from 1991 onwards). Transmissions included four- and five-speed manuals and three- and four-speed automatics; its rear suspension was a rigid axle and not all models had power steering. Add it all up and this Mirage was a little less refined than its successors.

But it was perhaps more interesting. One particularly memorable Mirage was the Sport hatchback of 1989 only, whose turbocharged 135-hp 1.6-liter engine, five-speed manual transmission, sport suspension and four-wheel disc brakes added some spice. Nearly as entertaining was the GS sedan of 1991-'92, whose twincam 1.6-liter engine made 123 hp.

While it's generally a better idea to stick with newer generations given the Mirage's affordability, these rare special editions have gone down in history as being the fastest Mirages that Mitsubishi ever built.

User Reviews:

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  My Little Weatherproof Motorcycle - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By tinycarguy - May 26 - 12:01 pm

  I love this car! It gives me everything I need: a roof, an engine, and wheels. You will be hard pressed to find a less expensive new car, and even harder pressed to find one with this kind of gas mileage. I, too came from a Nissan Versa, and while that was cheaper, it didnt get anywhere near this mileage. Im able to get it up to 56 mpg if I drive it right, and thats on the hilly back roads of NH. If you want to punch it ;) , you can still average around 30ish. The interior is larger than the Spark and Fiesta, power windows and locks are standard, and its been a pleasure to own so far. For the economically minded, this car cant be beat.

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  Never Would Have Made It - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Toya - March 23 - 6:10 pm

  I got my 2000 Mitsu. Mirage DE in April of 2001 after I wrecked a Honda Accord and I was not happy about it. It was plain and cheap (I was 18 and wanted something sporty). However, when I got it, it only had 15,000 miles on it and Im still driving it today over 7 years and I have a little over 192,000 miles on it. I put rims on it to make it look nice and a sound system for my entertainment. I have never ever had any major mechanical problems with it, it took 5 years before anything went out on it and I got it fixed immediately, I get my oil changed every 3 months(just because) and I love my car. Ive taken good care of it and it is taking good care of me, and its great on gas.

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  The red beauty - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By richgroh - January 14 - 1:47 am

  Ive owned this car for almost 3 years now, it is automatic and i bought it as my very first car. Shes treats me well besides an a/c compressor gone bad at 110k and an alternator at 130k but you gotta expect those kind of things from a woman her age. When i first got her she had 100k miles and put me back only $1800. I work delivery, commute to college, have another job that is 13 miles away one way, redline her daily (the 1.8l beast roars at high rpms) and shes been totaled THREE TIMES (only once in my ownership) so you can tell she could take a beating. I only average around 23 MPG which isnt terrible considering my foot is rather heavy. Perfect for commuting, car is nothing exciting.

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  Cute! - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By lisasue - November 26 - 1:00 pm

  I was unsure of this car, but my husband liked the safety features, so I agreed to test drive it. I like the fact that I get such killer gas mileage, and it always starts right up! Plus its easy to find a place to park. Its not real great on the freeway, but driving around town its awesome. All in all, I would do it again.

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  Very reliable cheap car - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By rvrsd - August 30 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 00 mirage used with 21k. I did not have any major/costly issues until August 00. I did 3 tune ups on the car, and oil change every 3-4 months. The car never broke down on me, but as a preventive maintenance, I had the water pump and timing belt changed at 65K.

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  Its NOT your Dads HOT ROD - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By dbrandenburg - August 12 - 6:12 pm

  I bought One of thee Mitsubishi Mirages, in late Nov. 2014.. The DE Model, (Automatic CVT), Sapphire blue.. For a First time buyer, It truly is a great car, Or for commuters.. It IS comfy driving, though seat adjustment/Steering Wheel could use a Improvement.. Noise Isnt really to bad, Annoying getting Off the starting Line, (green lights), though the Majority of the noise comes from the Transmission/Engine Combination, which IMOP could be Eliminated with noise dampening materials in the Firewall area(s), without sacrificing weight.. Going on Long trips, 600+ on I-40 is YES; is treacherously "fun",, Be prepared for the "side draft" from Big Rigs as they pass you, or them vice-versa..

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  Very Reliable - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Lfloyd - July 10 - 6:10 pm

  The gas mileage is great. This makes it cheap to operate and it has never left me standing on the side of the road (knock on wood). I have done little more than upkeep type repairs. Changed the timing belt, engine seals, and routine oil changes.

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  Good value for the money - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Mirage Convert - May 27 - 1:36 am

  Good, reliable vehicle on a budget! I drove a Civic for 10 years, until suffering sticker shock last summer when replacing. The Mirage, with its "Civic feel" has comfortable seats, good acceleration (113 HP) even with automatic, and handles extremely well in snow. Powerful A/C, heater, defroster, and stainless steel exhaust system. My 94 Mirage STILL has its original exhaust system and I live in the salt belt. As for MPG, expect 33-35.

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  Underrated and underappreciated - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By manythemiles - January 15 - 10:06 pm

  Bought car used in December 2011 with 144k on the odometer. Have driven the car 10k since purchase and am very pleased with it. Car gets very good gas mileage and has so far proven to be reliable and simple to maintain. All required maintenance can be done by anyone who has a basic knowledge of cars. Engine is well laid out and the small engine allows easy access to most components. Interior materials are of high quality and would rival the best. Dashboard layout isnt terrible, but I wouldve appreciated a higher radio placement. Cupholder is small and its effectiveness can vary. Blocks radio. Overall though, I think I will be holding onto this one for a while. Very satisfied overall.

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  Mitusbishi ride to thrill - 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By kid sid 2479 - January 8 - 4:33 pm

  I bought this car in April 2006 for only $7,999. It recently hit 23,000 miles. It was cheap and affordable. It was the best deal from a car dealership plus it still had avpowertrain warranty on it. It was easy to drive and had less confusing controls inside the car. It handled like a dream. It was a sporty looking car. The back part of it looks like Honda Coupe. I am not complaining about the power. It could have more, but that would make it more expensive. The car is very affordable, nice, and fun to drive of course. It does not give a good milege on roadways but on highways it does pretty well. For people with a tight budget who want a decent, sporty, eye-catching car, this would be it.